The College Essay: A misconception

I want to discuss one common misconception that students and parents make when approaching college essays. "It's important to select a unique topic." I want to reemphasize that what your child writes about is far less important than how they write.

While we can all agree that a strong approach is critical, we should discuss what topic your child should pursue.

It would be a mistake for them to stare at a blank piece of paper (or screen) and wonder, "What are some possible essay topics?" This typically leads to a trap of trying to guess what admissions committee wants to hear, or attempting to mimic another student's essay.

The better approach would be for your child to first consider, "What do I want admissions committees to know about me?" In other words, if your child could choose the impression that admissions committees are left with, what would they select?

Achieving this level of clarity will allow your child to filter topic ideas. If a topic idea highlights "Takeaway X", then it could work well. If it doesn't, the topic might be a weak idea.

College admissions is all about communicating qualities, through stories, that will make admissions committees want to admit your child. Grades, test scores, letters of recommendation, and essays all work together to showcase these qualities.

Playing up great qualities through compelling stories will lead to maximum admissions odds. Failing to do so can hurt your child's chances.

As always, we're here to help!